In Limbo
Chapter 63
When Amanda and Lee arrived at her home, Dotty, greeting them at the door, hugged them, and stated excitedly, "So, what happened and where did you do it?"
Lee was flabbergasted by the questions, and Amanda embarrassedly replied, putting her hands up, whispering, "Shh! Mother, please! Let's just take a breath and go on in and sit down, alright? Where are the boys?"
Dotty sighed, and said slowly, "Well, I think the boys heard how excited I was on the phone with you, and now they're upstairs being a little too quiet for my liking. I offered dessert, but they just aren't in the mood."
Amanda, going to the stair railing, called up, "My boys are not in the mood for Fudge Ripple ice cream with sprinkles and sauce, and marshmallows?"
Phillip and Jamie in unison called back, "No, thank you!"
Amanda sighed, stating softly to Lee as she began climbing the stairs, "Think I should go have a meeting with my young men-"
Dotty waved it away, answering, "Darling, they'll adjust! It's part of life-"
Amanda stopped, and holding onto the railing, commented, "Mother...Considering everything that they've already been through in the last few months with moving back and forth, and losing Joe on top of it all, I have to reassure them that it's all going to work out, okay?"
Lee asked with concern, "Want some help?"
Amanda gave a wan smile, stating, "N-Not just yet, but thank you, Honey...Don't worry. I'll be down soon..."
As Dotty watched her climb the stairs to see the boys, she then turned to Lee, replying, "I know we have ice cream, but I can never find those darn marshmallows!"
Lee chuckled, and shaking his head as he followed Dotty into the kitchen, he replied, "Well, sometimes it takes an extra set of eyes... C'mon, let me help you."
Dotty answered, "Thank you, and when we find them, let's turn the tables, and have Amanda hunt them down!"
Lee smiled as they began opening cabinets and drawers, commenting, "I love those kind of games..."
-SMK-
Amanda, reaching the boys' bedroom door, knocked and asked, "May I come in, Fellas?"
Phillip answered from the other side of the door, " No...We don't want to talk, Mom. You and Lee do what you want...We don't care any more. I mean, it's not like we have a say in anything anyway..."
Amanda winced and remarked sadly, "Well, of course you do, Sweetheart...Look, I-I know there's been an awful lot of change lately, but it'll be easier if we just talk it out, and work through it together, huh?"
Jamie then responded from the other side of the door, "Mom, talking about it doesn't change anything...Look, Phillip and I just need to get used to the idea. Lee's okay and all, but..."
The words her son spoke hung in the air, and gulping, Amanda replied softly, "Alright...I love you. I'll be downstairs if you change your mind."
A few moments later, Amanda came back down to the kitchen, and seeing her expression, Lee asked, "What happened?"
Amanda sighed and shrugged as she sat at the table responding to Lee, "They're trying to get used to the idea...They like you, but feel they don't count in some way-"
Dotty shook her head answering, "Oh, for heaven's sake! Amanda, you have done everything for those children! The divorce was not your fault, and moving suddenly wasn't your fault, either!"
So, as Dotty and Amanda continued their debate of sorts, Lee, without a word, left the kitchen and headed up the stairs to try and settle things, thinking, I'll be damned if I let yet another change turn this family upside down again!
Coming to the boys' bedroom door, Lee knocked, and stated firmly, "Boys? I think it's time the three of us had it out...Open up, because I'm not taking no for an answer!"
After a minute, the door opened and Phillip sighed, commenting, "Look, no offense, Lee, but you don't get what we've been through, alright?"
Lee answered, "Why don't you let me be the judge of that, huh? I think I may know a thing or two about change in general...So, c'mon, Guys, let's talk, okay?"
Phillip and Jamie looked at each other and shrugged, with Phillip gesturing, "Come in..."
TBC